AIHS - Certified Generalist WHS Professional

A Certified WHS Professional provides strategic and practical advice in relation to regulatory compliance, management and control of health and safety risks, development and implementation of management systems, and analysis of systems, technical and incident management information.

  • Designing and developing WHS management strategy and management systems as a framework for managing health and safety.
  • Influencing senior managers and building relationships as a basis for influence, mentoring and providing technical and strategic health and safety advice.
  • Conducting organisational reviews and change management activities to identify issues and opportunities for improvement in health and safety systems and work practices.
  • Providing advice/action based on conceptual and technical knowledge supported by analysis of evidence, experience, and critical thought.
  • Applying their knowledge and understanding of risk management to existing, new, and complex risks and to the control or management of these risks.
  • Developing and conducting training in WHS systems and specific risk areas.
  • Plus any work that a Generalist WHS Practitioner could do (see below)

A Certified WHS Professional with the AIHS must have the following University OHS/WHS qualifications (as a minimum):

  • Bachelor’s Degree, or Graduate Diploma, or Masters

A Chartered WHS Professional with the AIHS must have the following University OHS/WHS qualifications (as a minimum):

  • Masters Degree

A Certified WHS Professional must also have a minimum of 3 years (FTE) working in a Professional health and safety role(s).

A Chartered WHS Professional must also have a minimum of 10 years (FTE) working in Senior health and safety role(s).

A Certified WHS Professional must also develop and submit a Professional Reflective Practice Report and provide 3 referees who can confirm the individual’s capabilities and credentials.

An AIHS Certified WHS Professional must maintain their membership with the AIHS.

AIHS Certified WHS Professionals also have a commitment to Continued Professional Development (CPD)

CPD ensures ongoing development and maintenance of their professional capabilities to keep their skills, knowledge, and experience up to date.

You can find certified members of AIHS via the AIHS Certified OHS Member Directory.

AIHS - Certified Generalist WHS Practitioner

Certified OHS/WHS Practitioners are implementers of health and safety plans and strategies developed by company management or OHS/WHS Professionals. They work with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to fix identified hazards or may operate under WHS Professional supervision in larger organisations.

  • Facilitating Risk Assessments with workers and SMEs
  • Assisting to implement controls from Risk Assessments e.g. ordering/coordinating the installation of health and safety equipment, signage, etc.
  • Conducting workplace inspections
  • Conducting internal audits
  • Taking action to fix issues identified by workplace inspections or findings from audits or engage with the relevant person(s) to do so.
  • Conducting WHS training
  • Monitoring the Training Register and scheduling required training for workers
  • Supporting the development of a safe working environment by maintaining administrative processes for health and safety management systems,
  • Using established (risk) tools and processes to identify solutions
  • Developing Safe Work Procedures
  • Updating WHS Procedures based on changes within the workplace of legislation
  • Coordinating/monitoring that WHS related third party inspections are being conducted for fire extinguishers/reels, first aid kits, test and tag of electrical equipment, residual current devices, harnesses, lifting slings, cranes, servicing of vehicles, plant and equipment, calibration of WHS equipment such as gas detectors, etc.
  • Maintaining Registers of Health and Safety Data Sheets
  • Maintaining Registers of other WHS related equipment
  • Assisting to investigate incidents
  • Assisting with the provision of advice and assisting to action that advice based on technical knowledge, experience and input by WHS professionals and other technical advisors (SMEs)
  • Accessing, evaluating and using a broad range of workplace and industry sources of information to assist with the identification of solutions to control hazards/risks.
  • Developing reports for managers and business owners confirming whether the WHS monitoring activities (i.e. inspections, audits, training) are occurring as scheduled.

Pathway 1 – Education and Experience

A Certified WHS Practitioner with the AIHS must have a: Diploma of WHS/OHS, or Advanced Diploma of WHS/OHS

Pathway 2 – Course Work, Exam and Experience

Alternatively a Certified WHS Practitioner with the AIHS must have a Certificate IV of WHS/OHS, and complete 6 modules through the AIHS and pass an exam.

A Certified WHS Practitioner must also have a minimum of 3 years (FTE) working in a Practitioner health and safety roles.

AIHS Certified WHS Practitioners also have a commitment to Continued Professional Development (CPD).

CPD ensures ongoing development and maintenance of their professional capabilities to keep their skills, knowledge, and experience up to date.

You can find certified members of AIHS via the AIHS Certified OHS Member Directory.